NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Introduction

Welcome to Naval Base San Diego, right in the heart of beautiful San Diego, California! Here the weather is nearly perfect all year round with beautiful sunshine, ocean breezes, and pristine beaches. Honestly, you could probably put all your shoes except your flip flops into storage once you get here and forget about needing a jacket. This place is perfect. Occupied in 1918 as a commercial shipyard, the Navy acquired it in 1920 and began the construction of a Naval repair base which served the US Pacific Fleet in WWII, serving more than 5,117 ships. In the 1990s the Headquarters of the Pacific Fleet was relocated to San Diego from Long Beach and this base became the center of Navy Region Southwest. The base is now home to 54 ships, more than 200 tenant commands and support facilities, and more than 35,000 military and civilian personnel. Continue reading for our in-depth guide on Naval Base San Diego to help aid you in your transition to your new post home.

1. 1. Where Is Naval Base San Diego?
   2. Google Map View
   3. Getting There – Directions to the Base
   4. Entering Naval Base San Diego and Base Amenities
      • Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
      • Naval Base San Diego Visitor Center
      • Naval Base San Diego DEERS Office
      • Naval Base San Diego Gate Hours
      • Naval Base San Diego Commissary
      • Naval Base San Diego Exchange
      • Naval Base San Diego Barber Shops
      • Naval Base San Diego Post Office
      • Naval Base San Diego Finance Office
      • Naval Base San Diego Legal Office
      • Naval Base San Diego Library
      • Naval Base San Diego Hotels
   5. Where Should I Live Near Naval Base San Diego?
   6. What Schools are Near Naval Base San Diego?

1. What’s the Weather Like in Naval Base San Diego?
2. Things to Do Near Naval Base San Diego

Where Is Naval Base San Diego?

Located in San Diego, California, just south of the downtown area, the base is seated on the eastern side of the San Diego Bay. San Diego itself has a population of almost 5 million and is known for its year-round beautiful weather, beaches, and is a major biotechnology and healthcare development center.

Naval Base San Diego

3455 Senn Rd San Diego, CA 92136

Naval Base San Diego Map

Directions to Naval Base San Diego

San Diego International Airport Transportation

There is no base shuttle, however, there are multiple transportation options from the San Diego International Airport. Certified cab companies may drop off passengers on base, however, rideshare companies may be required to drop passengers at the gate. The USO, located at Terminal 1, does have a discounted shuttle that must be reserved in advance. The Metro Transit System (MTS) travels from the Airport to Downtown, where one may catch a trolley, train, or bus to reach base. Check the San Diego commuter website for more information.

Driving Directions to Naval Base San Diego

If Driving South

1. Take I-15 South
2. Take the I-5 N / Main St exit toward Harbor Drive
3. Take the exit on the left toward Harbor Drive
4. Merge onto S 32nd St and proceed to the Main Gate

If Driving North

1. Take I-15 North
2. Merge onto Harbor Drive at exit 11A toward Civic Center Drive
3. Turn sharp left onto S 32nd St and proceed to the Main Gate.

Naval Base San Diego Transportation Office

Naval Base San Diego Household Goods / Transportation Office

2623 LeHardy St, Bldg 3376 San Diego, CA, 92136

Phone

: 1 (855) 444-6683

Naval Base San Diego Transportation Office Hours

• Monday through Friday

  - 0730-1600

Entering Naval Base San Diego and Base Amenities

If you do not have a valid military ID, you must submit a SECNAV Form 5512/1. This is required for all non-affiliated, unescorted workers/guests and covers all events on base. All visitors must pass through the Pass & Decal Office listed below and are served on a first come, first serve basis.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

When reporting for duty, the location will vary based on your command. The best practice is to call your new command ahead of time and/or check their website for specific check-in information. You will typically be directed to the Administrative Department in building 72 if arriving during normal working hours. After hours and weekend arrivals should contact the Naval Base San Diego’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 1 (619) 556-7615. If you are checking in to a ship or unit that is currently deployed or at sea, proceed to the Transient Personnel Unit (TPU) located at Brunton Hall:

Transient Personnel Unit

Brunton Hall 2475 McKean St, Bldg 3142 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-3182 New arrivals should hand carry their Service Member’s Record, military ID, driver’s license, powers of attorney, PCS orders, Travel Orders/documentation, travel receipts, marriage certificates, medical and dental records, financial documents, social security cards, household goods inventory list, and dependent information found on the service member’s record “Page 2”.

Naval Base San Diego Visitors Center

Naval Base San Diego Pass and Decal Office

3101 Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-1653

Hours

: Monday through Friday 0530-1600

Naval Base San Diego DEERS Office

The ID Card Section/DEERS office is your stop for DEERS/RAPIDS and ID card issue. You can make appointments for ID cards and DEERS by calling 1 (619) 556-9248 or 1 (619) 556-9249.

Naval Base San Diego ID Card Section/DEERS

3101 Harbor Dr, Bldg 3436 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92113

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-9249

Naval Base San Diego ID Card/DEERS Hours

• Monday through Friday

  - 0730-1600

Naval Base San Diego Gate Hours

Gate hours and status can be found here.

• GATE 2 (Wet Side - NASSCO Gate)

  - Monday through Friday 0500-0800 Inbound only

• GATE 5 (Wet Side - 32nd St Pedestrian Gate)

  - 24/7

• GATE 6 (Wet Side - 32nd St)

  - 24/7

• GATE 6A (Wet Side - south of 32nd Street)

  - Monday through Friday 0500 - 1600, Weekends & Holidays CLOSED

• GATE 7 (Wet Side - Harbor Drive and Vesta Street)

  - Monday through Friday 0500-0800 INBOUND ONLY, Weekends and Holidays CLOSED

• GATE 8 (Wet Side- Harbor Drive between 32nd and 8th St)

  - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

• GATE 9 (Wet Side - Harbor Drive and 8th Street)

  - Monday through Friday 0500-1900, Weekends and Holidays CLOSED

• GATE 13 (Wet Side - Harbor Drive near Pier 13 area)

  - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

• GATE 15 (Dry Side - 28th St.)

  - Weekdays CLOSED, Weekends 0530--2000

• GATE 20 (Dry Side - Main St. just south of 28th St.)

  - Monday through Friday 0530--1900, Weekends and Holidays CLOSED

• GATE 23 (Dry Side - 32nd St.)

  - 24 HOURS/7 DAYS

• GATE 29 (Dry Side - Vesta St.)

  - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

• GATE 32 (Dry Side - Main, Division and Yuma streets at Anchors)

  - Monday through Friday 0500-1900, CLOSED Weekends and Holidays

• GATE 40 (8th St., across from MWR Long Term Storage)

  - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

• GATE 40A (Dry Side - Bldg. 279/280)

  - Monday through Friday 0500-1700, CLOSED weekends and holidays

• GATE 43 (Dry Side - 32nd Street and Norman Scott Road)

  - 24 HOURS/7 DAYS

Navy Region Southwest Headquarters/ Navfac Headquarters

• POST 26 (Broadway Complex-

  Quarterdeck) - 24 HOURS/7 DAYS

• POST 27 (Pedestrian Entrance) -

  CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Naval Base San Diego Commissary

Pick up groceries, dine, and shop in the department store-style commissary and exchange located conveniently next to one another on base.

Naval Base San Diego Commissary

2525 Callagan Hwy, Bldg 3629 MacDill, Air Force Base, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-8657

Naval Base San Diego Commissary Hours

• Daily

  - 0730-2000

Navy Exchange San Diego

Naval Base San Diego NEX

2260 Callagan Hwy, Bldg 3187A San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 544-2100 or 1 (619) 544-2259

Navy Exchange San Diego Hours

• Sunday

  - 1000-2000

• Monday through Saturday

   - 0900-2000

Naval Base San Diego Barber Shops

Main Exchange Barber Shop

2260 Callagan Hwy, Bldg 3379 San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 544-2229

Hours

:

• Daily

  - 0800-2000

Barber Shop Fleet Store

Fleet Store, Bldg 3301 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 544-2244

Hours

:

• Monday through Friday

  - 0700-1900

• Saturday, Sunday

  - 0900-1700

Barber Shop Murphy Canyon

3401 Santo Rd, Bldg 1092 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92124

Phone

: 1 (858) 627-4079

Hours

:

• Daily

  - 0930-2000

Beauty Salon

2260 Callagan Hwy, Bldg 3379 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92136 Phone: 1 (619) 544-2232

Hours

:

• Daily

  - 0800-2000

Naval Base San Diego Post Office

Get your letters and packages delivered where they need to go properly and on time with the help of the Naval Base San Diego Post Office.

Naval Base San Diego Post Office

4070 Surface Navy Blvd, Ste 1 San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-3530

Hours

:

• Monday through Friday

  – 0930-1700

Naval Base San Diego Finance Office

The Personnel Support Activity Detachment (PSD) is available for financial service and advice to military personnel and family members.

Navy PSD

3101 E Harbor, Bldg 3436 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92113

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-9249

Naval Base San Diego Finance Office Hours

• Monday - Friday

  : 0730 to 1530

Naval Legal San Diego

Active duty, dependents, and retirees are eligible for legal assistance in most areas. For a full list of what services the office can perform and which services they can only provide legal advice on, check their website here.

Legal Services

Stuyvesant St, Bldg 56 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 556-2211 or 1 (619) 556-2293

Region Legal Service Office Hours

• By appointment only

• Power of Attorney/Notary walk-in hours

  : Monday through Thursday 0800-1130 and 1300-1500, Friday 0900-1100

• Will Execution

  - Monday through Thursday 1100 and 1500, Friday 1100

Naval Base San Diego Library

There is no library on base.

Hotels Near Naval Base San Diego

Navy Gateway Inn & Suites (BEQ & BOQ)

2450 McHugh St Naval Base San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 5568672

Navy Lodge - NBSD

Colton Ave, Bldg 3526 Naval Base San Diego, CA 92136

Phone

: 1 (619) 234-6142

Hot Tip: Download MyBaseGuide's Naval Base San Diego Military Relocation Guide for information about hotels nearby.

Where Should I Live Near Naval Base San Diego?

Cities Near Naval Base San Diego

Naval Base San Diego is located just south of Downtown San Diego so the city is within easy commuting distance for both driving and public transit. Just across the bridge is the incredibly beautiful and upscale beach community of Coronado. To the north of the bay are multiple great communities like Ocean Beach, Point Loma, La Jolla, and Mission Valley.

Best Places to Live Near Naval Base San Diego

Naval Base San Diego is located just south of Downtown San Diego so getting an apartment in the city is certainly an option if you prefer the busy city lifestyle and don’t mind city prices. If you’re looking for a house off base, the top-recommended communities are in Mission Hills, Del Cerro, City Heights, Otay Ranch, and Torrey Highlands.

Mission Hills

This area is one of the only suburbs with its own business and restaurant district. It is centrally located, a short commute, safe and clean, and close to shopping and restaurants.

Del Cerro

A very nice suburb, Del Cerro is safe, has the best schools, has beautiful views, and is still close to base.

City Heights

A highly diverse and densely populated area, this is a good place for reasonably priced houses. It is close to lots of social amenities, has good public transportation, and affordable housing costs.

Otay Ranch

This is a very kid-friendly neighborhood with large homes and yards. It is highly recommended for military personnel looking for large houses and yards at decent prices for the area.

Torrey Highlands

A residential area in northern San Diego that’s a relatively new and very nice up and coming community. It’s also very pet and child friendly, having the best schools in San Diego. It is also regarded as one of the safest places in all of San Diego County, though it is a bit of a commute from base.

Hot Tip: Look for Naval Base San Diego homes and apartments for rent or sale, and find BAH, PCS, TLA & ETS military housing information at AHRN.com.

Naval Base San Diego Schools

There are no schools aboard Naval Base San Diego but there are many public schools within the San Diego Unified School District. Public charter schools are available and can be found through the San Diego County Office of Education website. Private schools can be located on the Private School Directory here. If you are unsure of where to start, the best place to begin is usually by contacting the School Liaison Officer. For childcare options, you can check militarychildcare.com for a comprehensive guide of programs.

Naval Base San Diego School Liaison Officer

Phone

: 1 (858) 349-7678

Naval Base San Diego Weather

Compared to our other guides, this will be the shortest weather paragraph we’ve written. Simply, it’s nice here all year-round. The weather is generally sunny with light, cool sea breezes. Summers are warm and can reach into the high 90s though it is rarely humid. Inland, away from the bay and in the hills, the weather is dry, hot, and desert-like. Mornings in the spring can be very foggy with the marine layer burning off by midday. April and May can be very cloudy with the locals calling it “Gray May.” Winters rarely get below 60s so you’ll be comfortable in shorts nearly every day. Rain is infrequent, especially inland.

Things to Do Near Naval Base San Diego

Outdoor Activities

There is an abundance of water based activities in San Diego including boating, surfing, scuba diving the kelp forests in La Jolla, and hiking in the hills. When stationed in Southern California, one can experience three seasons of outdoor activities over a three day weekend by surfing one day, going hiking in Joshua Tree Desert National Park or mountain biking in the hills of Hemet the next, and snow-skiing or snowboarding in Bear Mountain (just three hours away) the next.

Sports and Special Events

PetCo Park is home to the San Diego Padres and a beautiful, modern stadium right in the heart of the downtown Gaslamp District. Military tickets are steeply discounted San Diego ComicCon is a world famous event that takes place at the San Diego Convention Center right near base. Though tickets are hard to come by, the entire Gaslamp district becomes a haven for the weird and wonderful for an entire week.

Shopping and Entertainment

Mission Valley is a huge shopping district with upscale malls and retail centers. For local artists, thrift and vintage shopping, check out the Old Town and Mission Hills areas for lots of local businesses. Balboa Park is a gorgeous area at the top of the hills which is home to beautiful botanical gardens, lots of museums, art galleries, scenic walks, and the world famous San Diego Zoo! SeaWorld San Diego is just north of the city in the Ocean Beach area and offers military discounts. The USS Midway Museum is a central iconic figure of San Diego and is a beautiful tour and museum. The area surrounding it in the harbor is full of lovely waterfront restaurants and shopping.

Suggested Read: 30 Of the Best Things to Do on Naval Base San Diego

Restaurants Near Naval Base San Diego

Outdoor dining is a Southern California fixture so you’ll have no trouble finding tons of great options while stationed here. Here are just a few good spots in the area.

1. The Mission

3795 Mission Blvd San Diego, CA 92109

Phone

: 1 (858) 488-9060 This is a local favorite breakfast/brunch spot right on the beach that draws big crowds with both the location and the huge plates of french toast.

2. Hodad’s Downtown

945 Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Phone

: 1 (619) 234-6323 A kitschy local favorite for giant burgers with lots of toppings, shakes, onion rings and more.

3. Tequila Factory Restaurant and Cantina

2467 Juan St San Diego, CA 92110

Phone

: 1 (619) 260-8124 Located in the historic Old Town area in Mission Hills, this area is rife with good Mexican food. This festive eatery features rooftop views, familiar Mexican fare, and lots of special edition tequila. Looking to explore more options? Check out the 27 of the Best Naval Base San Diego Restaurants.

Hot Tip: Connect with military-trusted businesses and deals exclusively for Naval Base San Diego at MyBaseGuide.

Conclusion

The San Diego area is one of the most beautiful and military friendly places in the entire country. Here you’ll enjoy beautiful weather, lots of community and special events, sports, and fantastic outdoor activities. We hope this guide helps to get you settled quickly and easily so you can get out and explore this fantastic new duty station.  

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.